Fun Times Inside Your RV

7. Tell a great story. Away from the usual distractions of home, your family might enjoy simpler pleasures from a simpler time. Not so long ago, storytelling was a chief form of entertainment -- and education -- in many, if not most, cultures. You'd be surprised what you can come up with when you turn the lights low, snuggle in your cozy space together, and start spinning a yarn. If it's late and dark, ghost stories never disappoint, and family stories -- when Mom and Dad got married, what it was like when Grandma and Granddad were little -- are good any time of day or night. When you see how gratifying the oral tradition is, you might get fired up at the idea of reading aloud. If so, pack some thrilling tales like The Count of Monte Cristo, Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, and Robinson Crusoe. No matter how old you are, the sound of someone reading is music to the soul. And when it's time to go inward and be quiet, make sure all the readers in the group have a stash of personal books for their private pleasure.

8. Things that come in handy. Got room for another tub? Gather up some handiwork. If you're so inclined, in your down time you can tend to those socks that need darning. Better yet, find a needlepoint, crewel, knitting, or crochet project. As you work on something that brings you joy, share your enjoyment with your kids and pass down your skills. Your children will always remember the intimate times when they learned a hand skill from you on an RV family vacation. Imagine the family fun of working together on an afghan, which can become a snuggly RV standby on future trips. If you get ambitious, you can give each family member a square to decorate for a trip quilt. Piece it together as a family on a special evening back home (or in your RV). As the quilt comes together, so will you as a family reliving your trip and stitching together new memories.